The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the four models of Apple's upcoming iPhone 14 family, which is expected to launch in the fall. Now the latest leak claims that the iPhone 14 models' designs have been finalized, as trial production begins overseas.
Apple's next iPhone has entered the OEM trial production stage, according to a report from Economic Daily (via MacRumors). The production of the Pro models will be handled by Apple supplier Foxconn, while the cheaper ones would be handled by Luxshare, according to the report.
According to industry analysts, Apple normally issues a trial production order for its forthcoming iPhone in mid-to-late February. The supplier will then develop a bill of materials and establish its quality monitoring methodology.
Once trial production begins, the supplier will collect data, repair any anomalies, monitor the manufacturing process, and decide whether or not the products produced during the trial are acceptable.
All of this suggests that Apple has completed the design of its next iPhone generation.
If you've been following the iPhone 14 rumors and leaks over the last few months, you're probably already aware of what to expect from the new iPhone.
All signs have led to the notch's demise from the beginning. With the iPhone X, Apple debuted the sensor housing for the front camera and Face ID components. With the exception of the iPhone SE 2, it has appeared on every new iPhone since. The notch on the iPhone 13 shrank marginally, but it remained a major design aspect.
Jon Prosser, the host of Front Page Tech, shared renders of the rumored iPhone 14 Pro Max in September. The new model not only ditches the notch in favor of a hole-punch design, but also brings back round volume controls. According to Prosser, the iPhone 14 models will be thicker, which will eliminate the camera bump.
Recent speculations have claimed that Prosser was incorrect regarding at least one design decision. Apple will also include a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the display in addition to the hole-punch. These two cutouts will hold the front-facing camera as well as the TrueDepth camera system for Face ID. Given the lack of recent leaks debunking these claims, this is very certainly the design that Apple settled on prior to starting trial production.
If nothing goes wrong, Apple should release the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max in September. Meanwhile, Apple will have a virtual event for the iPhone SE 3 in March. Furthermore, iOS 16 will be unveiled this summer at WWDC.
